Thermos with beverage consumption apparatus which enables liquid to be consumed directly from the thermos when a valve is opened

ABSTRACT

A thermos (with or without a vacuum) with an improved beverage consumption apparatus which enables a liquid to be consumed directly from the thermos when a valve is pushed to the opened condition so that liquid can exit the interior of the thermos. Thermos also contains an improved larger easily locatable circumferential closing ring which facilitates closure of the container when the user is in a darkened area or driving a moving vehicle so that the consumer must have one hand on the steering wheel and is not necessarily looking at the thermos. The thermos also comprises an improved sealing cap to facilitate valve closure. The thermos also contains an improved valve sealing means to assure that even a tiny amount of liquid will not seep out of the thermos when the thermos is placed into a container such as a briefcase which contains written material and valuable electronic objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of thermoses. A thermos is acontainer for keeping liquids at almost their original temperature forseveral hours. The thermos has two walls enclosing a vacuum and isfitted in a metal or plastic outer case. Some thermoses do not have avacuum. For purposes of the present invention, a thermos is defined toinclude all types of thermoses including those that have a vacuum andthose that do not have a vacuum.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Thermoses have been in existence for many years. In general, a thermoseither has no cap or is fitted with a cap which is screwed in place onthe upper body of the thermos when the thermos is in the closedcondition. In the prior art, when the user desires to consume a beveragewhich is contained within the thermos, a valve is opened and if thethermos has no cap then liquid is poured into a separate cup or glass.If the thermos has a cap, the cap is unscrewed and functions as a cup.Liquid is poured from the thermos into the cap and consumed. Thisfunctions well when the user is seated at a table or adjacent anotherflat surface when the cap or separate cup can be placed on the flatsurface and the beverage from the thermos poured into the cap orseparate cup. However, when the user is in a moving vehicle such as acar or public transportation vehicle such as a bus, train or airplane,it becomes more difficult to hold the cap or cup in one hand and pourliquid from the thermos into the cap or cup with the other hand whilethe vehicle is in motion. In addition, if the person is driving thevehicle, it becomes extremely difficult to pour liquid from the thermosinto the cap or cup while driving the vehicle. In addition, if it isnight-time and darkness surrounds the vehicle, the difficulty of theprocess is greatly increased. Therefore, there is a significant need foran improved thermos which facilitates easy consumption of the liquid,especially if the user is in a moving vehicle.

One type of thermos which is known in the prior art has a centralpushbutton valve assembly which causes the thermos to be in the opencondition when the button is pushed to a downward position, therebyenabling liquid to be poured from the thermos. The thermos has a smallcircumferential ring which surrounds the button and when a downwardforce is exerted on the small circumferential ring, the valve assemblyis moved to a closed position so that liquid no longer can be pouredfrom the thermos. When the user is in a lighted area, the smallcircumferential ring is readily visible and can be easily pushed toclose the valve. However, when the consumer is in a vehicle when thelight is dimmed, especially if the user is driving the vehicle, itbecomes more difficult to locate the small circumferential ring to closethe valve on the thermos. Therefore, there is a significant need for animproved closure means to close the valve on the thermos when the useris in a darkened area and especially if the darkened area is in a movingvehicle. This problem is compounded if the user is driving the vehicleand therefore must have at least one hand on the steering wheel.

Finally, the user sometimes wishes to place the thermos in the user'sbriefcase which contains paper and other valuable objects such as alaptop computer. Even though the valve known in the prior art does closethe thermos, there is sometimes a small amount of liquid trapped withinthe interior of the valve which could leak out into the briefcase andpotentially damage the written document or laptop computer alsocontained within the briefcase. Therefore, there is a significant needfor an improved valve assembly which assures that even the smallestamount of liquid will not seep out of the thermos when it is laidhorizontally within a briefcase or other carrying case which containswritten documents and valuable electronic accessories.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a thermos (with or without a vacuum) with animproved beverage consumption apparatus which enables a liquid to beconsumed directly from the thermos when a valve is pushed to the openedcondition so that liquid can exit the interior of the thermos. Thepresent invention thermos also contains an improved larger easilylocatable circumferential closing ring which facilitates closure of thecontainer when the user is in a darkened area or driving a movingvehicle so that the consumer must have one hand on the steering wheeland is not necessarily looking at the thermos. The present inventionalso comprises an improved sealing cap to facilitate valve closure. Thepresent invention also contains an improved valve sealing means toassure that even a tiny amount of liquid will not seep out of thethermos when the thermos is placed into a container such as a briefcasewhich contains written material and valuable electronic objects.

It has been discovered, according to the present invention that if theexterior circumferential sidewall of the thermos is extended to a levelabove the surface of the top of the closing valve, then when the valveis in the opened condition and liquid can be caused to exit theretaining chamber in the thermos, the liquid will be retained by theextended exterior circumferential sidewall and can be consumed directlyfrom the thermos when the user places his/her lips over the extendedcircumferential sidewall and sips the liquid.

It has further been discovered, according to the present invention, thatif the circumferential closing ring which surrounds the pushbutton valveopening means of the thermos is expanded and has a widened surface area,then it is much easier for a user to exert a downward force on thecircumferential closing ring to more easily close the valve of thethermos when the user is in a darkened area or driving a moving vehicle.

It has also been discovered, according to the present invention, that ifthe thermos includes a sealing cap which can be placed into the areasurrounded by the extended circumferential sidewall and the sealing caphas an interior downwardly extending ring, then the ring can come incontact with the widened surface area of the circumferential closingring to exert a downward force thereon and thereby close the valveassembly of the thermos when the cap is placed into the area, either bybeing threaded into the area with mating threads on the exterior surfaceof the sealing cap and the interior surface of the extendedcircumferential sidewall or by being press fitted and pushed therein.

In addition, it has been discovered that if the widen circumferentialclosing ring further comprises a multiplicity of small bumps orprotrusions, when the sealing cap is screwed into or press fit into thethermos, the interior ring within the cap which is aligned with themultiplicity of protrusions can contact the multiplicity of protrusionsand thereby facilitate the downward force on the widened circumferentialclosing ring to close the valve.

It has also been discovered, according to the present invention, that ifthe valve of the thermos is supplied with additional sealing gasketswithin the interior of the valve, then when the valve is in the closedcondition, it completely seals the interior chamber of the thermos andseals any liquid which may remain within the valve so that when thethermos is placed into a briefcase or other container having papermaterial and electronic products therein, the user can be assured thatno liquid, not even the liquid which may be trapped within the valve,will seep out of the thermos and possibly ruin the written material orelectronic equipment.

It is therefore an object of the present to provide an extended exteriorcircumferential sidewall of the thermos which is extended to a levelabove the surface of the top of the closing valve, so that when thevalve is in the opened condition and liquid can be caused to exit theretaining chamber in the thermos, the liquid will be retained by theextended exterior circumferential sidewall and can be consumed directlyfrom the thermos when the user places his/her lips over the extendedcircumferential sidewall and sips the liquid.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a widenedcircumferential closing ring which surrounds the pushbutton valveopening means of the thermos which is expanded and has a widened surfacearea, so that it is much easier for a user to exert a downward force onthe circumferential closing ring to more easily close the valve of thethermos when the user is in a darkened area or driving a moving vehicle.

It is additionally an object of the present invention to provide asealing cap which can be placed into the area surrounded by the extendedcircumferential sidewall and further providing the sealing cap with aninterior downwardly extending ring, so that the ring can come in contactwith the widened surface area of the circumferential closing ring toexert a downward force thereon and thereby close the valve assembly ofthe thermos when the cap is placed into the area, either by beingthreaded into the area with mating threads on the exterior surface ofthe sealing cap and the interior surface of the extended circumferentialsidewall or by being press fitted and pushed therein.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide amultiplicity of small bumps or protrusions on the widenedcircumferential area which are aligned with the interior ring on thethermos sealing cap so that when the sealing cap is screwed into orpress fit into the thermos, the interior ring within the cap which isaligned with the multiplicity of protrusions can contact themultiplicity of protrusions and thereby facilitate the downward force onthe widened circumferential closing ring to close the valve.

It is also a object of the present invention to provide additionalinterior sealing gaskets within the interior of the valve so that whenthe valve is in the closed condition, it completely seals the interiorchamber of the thermos and seals any liquid which may remain within thevalve so that when the thermos is placed into a briefcase or othercontainer having paper material and electronic products therein, theuser can be assured that no liquid, not even the liquid which may betrapped within the valve, will seep out of the thermos and possibly ruinthe written material or electronic equipment.

Further novel features and other objects of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, discussion andthe appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustrationonly and not limitation, there is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present invention improvedthermos with the pushbutton central valve in the up or closed condition,illustrating the widened circumferential closing ring with protrusionssurrounding the pushbutton, and the extended circumferential sidewallwhich extends above the level of the central pushbutton and the widenedcircumferential closing ring.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the present invention improvedthermos with the pushbutton central valve in the down or openedcondition, illustrating the widened circumferential closing ring withprotrusions surrounding the pushbutton, and the extended circumferentialsidewall which extends above the level of the central pushbutton and thewidened circumferential closing ring.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the sealing cap of the thermos,illustrating the downwardly extending interior ring.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing cap screwed into theupper portion of the thermos and illustrating the downwardly extendinginterior ring aligned with two of the protrusions on the circumferentialclosing ring.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section view of the pushbutton valve of athermos incorporating a first embodiment of the present inventionadditional interior sealing gasket within the valve.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-section view of the pushbutton valve of athermos incorporating a second embodiment of the present inventionadditional interior sealing gasket within the valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to the drawings, it should be understood thatsuch embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative ofbut a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which canrepresent applications of the principles of the present invention.Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art towhich the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit,scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined inthe appended claims.

Referring to the top perspective views of FIGS. 1 and 2, there isillustrated a thermos 100 which incorporates the novel features of thepresent invention. The thermos 100 has a circumferential sidewall 110which contains within it a central chamber for retaining a liquid. Thethermos may have two walls enclosing a vacuum which is of conventionaldesign well known in the prior art. The thermos may also have no vacuumwhich is also of conventional design well known in the prior art. Thethermos 100 is also fitted with a conventional valve assemblyillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 which terminate in a central activationpushbutton 120. In FIG. 1, the central activation pushbutton isillustrated in the up or valve closed position. In FIG. 2, the centralactivation pushbutton is illustrated in the down or valve openedcondition.

In conventional thermoses, the height of the sidewall terminates atapproximately the level of the pushbutton in the up position. One keyinnovation of the present invention is to extend the height of thesidewall so that the extended sidewall 10 extends to a height above thelevel of the pushbutton 120 in the up or closed condition so that aninterior chamber 40 is formed within the interior surface 12 of theextended sidewall 10. The extended sidewall 10 also has an exteriorsurface 14. The interior surface 12 of the extended sidewall 10 may alsocomprise threads 16.

A second key innovation of the present invention is the creation of awidened circumferential closing ring 20. In conventional thermoses, thecircumferential closing ring is narrow. An innovation of the presentinvention is to create a widened circumferential closing ring 20 asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The widened circumferential closing ring20 has a top surface 22 which supports a multiplicity of protrusions 24.It will be appreciated that it is within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention for the top surface 22 to have at least one protrusion24 or no protrusion at all. The widened circumferential closing ring 20extends from adjacent the central activation pushbutton 120 to adjacentthe interior surface 12 of extended sidewall 10. There is a smallcircumferential gap 30 between the exterior circumference 26 of widenedcircumferential closing ring 20 and the interior surface 12 of extendedsidewall 10 so that liquid 200 can flow from the interior chamber of thethermos into the cavity 40 formed by the interior surface 12 of extendedsidewall 10 and the top 22 of the circumferential closing ring 20.

Therefore, a user can place his or her lips around the extendedcircumferential sidewall 10 and drink the liquid 200 directly from theformed chamber 40 of the thermos. This is a key innovation. As discussedin the background section, prior art conventional thermoses either haveno cap so that liquid is poured from the thermos into a separate glassor cup or in the embodiment where a cap is screwed onto the thermos, thecap serves as a cup into which the liquid is poured. In a situationwhere the user is in a moving vehicle, especially when it is dark atnight or very early in the morning, it is very difficult to hold a cupsteady and pour liquid from the thermos into the cup. The presentinvention completely solves this problem. It is not necessary to pourthe liquid form the thermos into any cap, cup or glass. Instead, oncethe activation pushbutton 120 is pushed into the down or openedposition, the liquid 200 flows through the circumferential gap 26 intothe chamber 40 and the user can drink the liquid directly from thepresent invention improved thermos. As a result, there will be nospillage of liquid during a pouring process. This is extremelybeneficial, especially if the liquid 200 is very hot coffee or tea.

The benefit of the protrusions 24 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thepresent invention includes a sealing cap 50 which has a top surface 52and a sidewall 54 which has an exterior surface 56 which may have withthreads 58 formed on the exterior surface 56. The threads 58 mate withthe threads 16 on extended circumferential sidewall 10 when the sealingcap is screwed into the extended circumferential sidewall 10. Thesealing cap 50 also has a central downwardly extending interior ring 60.As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the sealing cap 50 is screwed into theupper extended circumferential sidewall 10, the downwardly extendinginterior ring 60 contacts at least one protrusion 24 and thereby exertsa downward force on the widened circumferential closing ring 20 to causethe valve assembly 70 to close. It will be appreciated that even withoutthe protrusion 24, if the downwardly extending circumferential ring 60has a length “L” which matches the interior height “H” of the extendedcircumferential sidewall 10, there will be a downward force exerted onthe widened circumferential closing ring 20 so that the valve 70 will beclosed.

If it is dark and the sealing cap 50 cannot be easily located, thewidened circumferential closing ring 20 permits a user to easily pressdown on it to close the valve assembly 70. Therefore, the widenedcircumferential closing ring 20 by itself provides a significant benefitto a user by enabling the user to easily close the valve and shut offthe flow of beverage when it is dark.

The valve assembly 70 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The activationpushbutton 120 extends into a widened plate 122 which mates with acircumferential interior shelf 140 on the interior wall 132 of valvebody 130. The valve body 130 has a circumferential exterior sidewall 150which terminates in a plate 160. In the closed condition, the plate 160lies flush against the sidewall 150 so that no liquid can flow throughthe valve. In the open condition illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the plate160 is pushed away from the sidewall so that a gap 170 is created sothat liquid from the thermos can flow through the valve 70 and into agap 30 between the interior surface 12 of the extended sidewall 10 andthe exterior circumference 26 of widened circumferential closing ring20. It will be appreciated that other components such as springs in theconventional valve assembly have not been illustrated.

The innovation of the present invention is to include an additionalsealing gasket within the valve assembly 70 to absolutely assure that noliquid which was trapped in the valve assembly when it is closed willaccidentally seep out of the valve assembly and into an enclosure suchas a briefcase where the thermos with liquid therein has been stored. Inthe first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the additional sealinggasket 80 is affixed to the lower circumferential surface 124 of thewidened plate portion 122 of activation pushbutton 120. The gasket 80 isaligned with the circumferential interior shelf 140. When in the closedcondition this additional gasket 80 provides a double safe sealingarrangement to assure that no liquid trapped within the valve assembly70 will seep out of the thermos.

The alternative embodiment of the sealing gasket 90 is illustrated inFIG. 6. In this embodiment, the additional interior sealing gasket 90 isaffixed to the interior shelf 140 so that it is compressed between theinterior shelf 140 and the widened plate 122 when the valve is in theclosed condition, to once again provide a double safe sealingarrangement to assure that no liquid trapped within the valve assembly70 will seep out of the thermos.

Defined in detail, the present invention is a thermos having an internalchamber for retaining a liquid and fitted within a thermos sidewall, anda valve assembly in fluid communication with the internal chamber, thevalve assembly having an opened condition by which a liquid can bedispensed from the thermos and a closed condition which prevents theliquid from being dispensed from the thermos, the valve assemblypositioned at one end of the thermos and having a central activationpushbutton by which the valve is opened, the improvement comprising: (a)an extended sidewall extending from the sidewall at the end of thethermos containing the valve assembly, the extended sidewall having aninterior surface and an exterior surface such that the interior surfaceof the extended sidewall forms a sidewall of a chamber above the valveassembly; (b) a widened circumferential closing ring by which the valveis closed and having a widened top surface surrounding an upper portionof and extending from the central activation pushbutton to a locationadjacent the interior surface of the extended sidewall, a gap locatedbetween the interior surface of the extended sidewall and the exteriorcircumference of the widened circumferential closing ring; (c) adownward force on the widened circumferential closing ring causing thevalve assembly to close with the widened surface area facilitatingmanual closure of the valve assembly; and (d) the widened top surface ofthe widened circumferential valve closing assembly forming the base ofthe chamber bounded by the interior surface of the extended sidewall,the chamber serving to retain a liquid which flows out of the thermoswhen the valve is in the opened condition, the extended sidewallenabling a user to sip the liquid from the chamber.

Defined more broadly, the present invention is a thermos having aninternal chamber for retaining a liquid, the internal chamber and fittedwithin a thermos sidewall and a valve assembly in fluid communicationwith the internal chamber, the valve assembly having an opened conditionby which a liquid can be dispensed from the thermos and a closedcondition which prevents the liquid from being dispensed from thethermos, the valve assembly positioned at one end of the thermos andhaving a central activation pushbutton by which the valve is opened, theimprovement comprising: (a) an extended sidewall extending from thesidewall at the end of the thermos containing the valve assembly, theextended sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surfacesuch that the interior surface of the extended sidewall forms a sidewallof a chamber above the valve assembly; and (b) the chamber bounded bythe interior surface of the extended sidewall, serving to retain aliquid which flows out of the thermos when the valve is in the openedcondition, the extended sidewall enabling a user to sip the liquid fromthe chamber.

Defined alternatively and more broadly, the present invention is athermos having an internal chamber for retaining a liquid, the internalchamber and fitted within a thermos sidewall and a valve assembly influid communication with the internal chamber, the valve assembly havingan opened condition by which a liquid can be dispensed from the thermosand a closed condition which prevents the liquid from being dispensedfrom the thermos, the valve assembly positioned at one end of thethermos and having a central activation pushbutton by which the valve isopened, the improvement comprising: (a) a widened circumferentialclosing ring by which the valve is closed and having a widened topsurface surrounding an upper portion of and extending around a topportion of the central activation pushbutton; and (b) a downward forceon the widened circumferential closing ring causing the valve assemblyto close with the widened surface area facilitating manual closure ofthe valve assembly.

Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to anyparticular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or anyspecific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified invarious particulars or relations without departing from the spirit orscope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of whichthe apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration anddisclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the variousforms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied oroperated.

1. A thermos having an internal chamber for retaining a liquid andfitted within a thermos sidewall and a valve assembly in fluidcommunication with the internal chamber, the valve assembly having anopened condition by which a liquid can be dispensed from the thermos anda closed condition which prevents the liquid from being dispensed fromthe thermos, the valve assembly positioned at one end of the thermos andhaving a central activation pushbutton by which the valve is opened, theimprovement comprising: a. an extended sidewall extending from thesidewall at the end of the thermos containing the valve assembly, theextended sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surfacesuch that the interior surface of the extended sidewall forms a sidewallof a chamber above the valve assembly; b. a widened circumferentialclosing ring by which the valve is closed and having a top surfacesurrounding an upper portion of and extending from the centralactivation pushbutton to a location adjacent the interior surface of theextended sidewall, a gap located between the interior surface of theextended sidewall and the exterior circumference of the widenedcircumferential closing ring; c. a downward force on the widenedcircumferential closing ring causing the valve assembly to close withthe widened circumferential closing ring facilitating manual closure ofthe valve assembly; and d. the top surface of the widenedcircumferential closing ring forming the base of a chamber bounded bythe interior surface of the extended sidewall, the chamber serving toretain a liquid which flows out of the thermos when the valve is in theopened condition, the extended sidewall enabling a user to sip theliquid from the chamber.
 2. The thermos in accordance with claim 1,further comprising a sealing cap having means to fit within the chamberand be retained therein, the sealing cap having an extending internalring which comes in contact with the top surface of the widenedcircumferential closing ring to create a downward force thereon andclose the valve when the sealing cap is within the chamber.
 3. Thethermos in accordance with claim 2 further comprising threads on theinternal surface of the extended sidewall and mating threads on anexterior surface of the sealing cap wherein the sealing cap is retainedwithin the chamber by being threaded into the internal surface of theextended sidewall.
 4. The thermos in accordance with claim 2 wherein thesealing cap is retained within the chamber by a press fit.
 5. Thethermos in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a multiplicity ofprotrusions on the top surface of the widened circumferential closingring, the protrusions aligned with the extending interior ring of thesealing cap whereby the protrusions facilitate the closing of the valvewhen the sealing cap is retained within the chamber.
 6. The thermos inaccordance with claim 2 further comprising at least one protrusion onthe top surface of the widened circumferential closing ring, the atleast one protrusion aligned with the extending interior ring of thesealing cap whereby the at least one protrusion facilitate the closingof the valve when the sealing cap is retained within the chamber.
 7. Thethermos in accordance with claim 1 wherein the valve assembly furthercomprises a widened plate extending from the activation pushbutton and amating shelf located on an interior wall of a valve body of the valve,and a sealing gasket affixed to a lower wall of the widened plate suchthat the sealing gasket is sandwiched between the widened plate and theshelf when the valve is in the closed position to assure that any liquidtrapped within the valve will not seep out of the thermos.
 8. Thethermos in accordance with claim 1 wherein the valve assembly furthercomprises a widened plate extending from the activation pushbutton and amating shelf located on an interior wall of a valve body of the valve,and a sealing gasket affixed to the shelf such that the sealing gasketis sandwiched between the widened plate and the shelf when the valve isin the closed position to assure that any liquid trapped within thevalve will not seep out of the thermos.
 9. A thermos having an internalchamber for retaining a liquid and fitted within a thermos sidewall anda valve assembly in fluid communication with the internal chamber, thevalve assembly having an opened condition by which a liquid can bedispensed from the thermos and a closed condition which prevents theliquid from being dispensed from the thermos, the valve assemblypositioned at one end of the thermos and having a central activationpushbutton by which the valve is opened, the improvement comprising: a.an extended sidewall extending from the sidewall at the end of thethermos containing the valve assembly, the extended sidewall having aninterior surface and an exterior surface such that the interior surfaceof the extended sidewall forms a sidewall of a chamber above the valveassembly; b. the chamber bounded by the interior surface of the extendedsidewall, serving to retain a liquid which flows out of the thermos whenthe valve is in the opened condition, the extended sidewall enabling auser to sip the liquid from the chamber; c. a widened circumferentialclosing ring by which the valve is closed and having a top surfacesurrounding an upper portion of and extending from the centralactivation pushbutton to a location adjacent the interior surface of theextended sidewall, a gap located between the interior surface of theextended sidewall and the exterior circumference of the widenedcircumferential closing ring; d. a downward force on the widenedcircumferential closing ring causing the valve assembly to close andfacilitating manual closure of the valve assembly; and e. the topsurface of the widened circumferential closing ring forming the base ofthe chamber bounded by the interior surface of the extended sidewall,the chamber serving to retain a liquid which flows out of the thermoswhen the valve is in the opened condition, the extended sidewallenabling a user to sip the liquid from the chamber.
 10. The thermos inaccordance with claim 9, further comprising a sealing cap having meansto fit within the chamber and be retained therein, the sealing caphaving an extending internal ring which comes in contact with the topsurface of the widened circumferential closing ring to create a downwardforce thereon and close the valve when the sealing cap is within thechamber.
 11. The thermos in accordance with claim 10 further comprisingthreads on the internal surface of the extended sidewall and matingthreads on an exterior surface of the sealing cap wherein the sealingcap is retained within the chamber by being threaded into the internalsurface of the extended sidewall.
 12. The thermos in accordance withclaim 10 wherein the sealing cap is retained within the chamber by apress fit.
 13. The thermos in accordance with claim 10 furthercomprising a multiplicity of protrusions on the top surface of thewidened circumferential closing ring, the protrusions aligned with theextending interior ring of the sealing cap whereby the protrusionsfacilitate the closing of the valve when the sealing cap is retainedwithin the chamber.
 14. The thermos in accordance with claim 10 furthercomprising at least one protrusion on the top surface of the widenedcircumferential closing ring, the at least one protrusion aligned withthe extending interior ring of the sealing cap whereby the at least oneprotrusion facilitate the closing of the valve when the sealing cap isretained within the chamber.
 15. The thermos in accordance with claim 9wherein the valve assembly further comprises a widened plate extendingfrom the activation pushbutton and a mating shelf located on an interiorwall of a valve body of the valve, and a sealing gasket affixed to alower wall of the widened plate such that the sealing gasket issandwiched between the widened plate and the shelf when the valve is inthe closed position to assure that any liquid trapped within the valvewill not seep out of the thermos.
 16. The thermos in accordance withclaim 9 wherein the valve assembly further comprises a widened plateextending from the activation pushbutton and a mating shelf located onan interior wall of a valve body of the valve, and a sealing gasketaffixed to the shelf such that the sealing gasket is sandwiched betweenthe widened plate and the shelf when the valve is in the closed positionto assure that any liquid trapped within the valve will not seep out ofthe thermos.
 17. A thermos having an internal chamber for retaining aliquid and fitted within a thermos sidewall and a valve assembly influid communication with the internal chamber, the valve assembly havingan opened condition by which a liquid can be dispensed from the thermosand a closed condition which prevents the liquid from being dispensedfrom the thermos, the valve assembly positioned at one end of thethermos and having a central activation pushbutton by which the valve isopened, the improvement comprising: a. a widened circumferential closingring by which the valve is closed and having a widened top surfacesurrounding an upper portion of and extending around a top portion ofthe central activation pushbutton; and b. a downward force on thewidened circumferential closing ring causing the valve assembly to closewith the widened surface area facilitating manual closure of the valveassembly.
 18. The thermos in accordance with claim 17 wherein the valveassembly further comprises a widened plate extending from the activationpushbutton and a mating shelf located on an interior wall of a valvebody of the valve, and a sealing gasket affixed to a lower wall of thewidened plate such that the sealing gasket is sandwiched between thewidened plate and the shelf when the valve is in the closed position toassure that any liquid trapped within the valve will not seep out of thethermos.
 19. The thermos in accordance with claim 17 wherein the valveassembly further comprises a widened plate extending from the activationpushbutton and a mating shelf located on an interior wall of a valvebody of the valve, and a sealing gasket affixed to the shelf such thatthe sealing gasket is sandwiched between the widened plate and the shelfwhen the valve is in the closed position to assure that any liquidtrapped within the valve will not seep out of the thermos.